Commissioner Lara announces appointments to the CAARP Advisory Committee, the COIN Advisory Board, and the Curriculum Board

News: 2025 Press Release

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today announced several appointments to help continue driving forward the California Department of Insurance’s mission to protect California consumers. These appointments include reappointing members Nona Tirre to the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP) Advisory Committee and Maïté Irakoze Baur to the California Organized Investment Network (COIN) Advisory Board, as well as naming Cathy Little as the newest member of Curriculum Board.

"Consumers benefit when expert voices are at the table advocating for Californians' best interests, and I am pleased to announce my reappointments to CAARP and COIN, and naming a new member to the Curriculum Board," said Commissioner Lara. "I am grateful that these leaders in their communities have agreed to serve their fellow Californians to ensure greater transparency, fairness, and a robust insurance market.”

The Governor and California State Legislature created CAARP to provide auto insurance for motorists unable to obtain coverage in the private market due to their driving records or other extraordinary circumstances. One program within the plan -- the California Low Cost Auto Program -- aims to provide affordable liability insurance to income-eligible good drivers by assigning them to private insurers based upon the companies’ share of the state’s auto insurance market. The CAARP Advisory Committee provides policy advice to Commissioner Lara and the Department on matters affecting the operation of its programs.

The California Organized Investment Network (COIN) was established in 1996 within the Department to guide insurers on making financially sound investments that yield environmental benefits throughout California and social benefits within the State’s underserved communities. Commissioner Lara has prioritized COIN investments which drive affordable housing, support small businesses, combat climate change, and encourage investors to utilize diverse investment managers more. The COIN Advisory Board provides guidance to the Commissioner and the COIN program to meet its mission and chief priorities.

The Curriculum Board oversees the development of pre-licensing and continuing education curriculum for agents and brokers to uphold professional standards that protect consumers. This includes a list of preapproved courses of study as well as courses of study for professional designations. This Board also develops standards for providers and instructors who offer courses and other training to licensed agents and brokers. 

The next CAARP Advisory Committee meeting will be held on August 19 and August 20, 2025, the next COIN Advisory Board meeting is August 14, 2025, and the next Curriculum Board meeting is July 17, 2025.

More details are available at: www.insurance.ca.gov/boards. Public members of the CAARP Advisory Committee receive $250 per meeting. All other positions are uncompensated.

# # #

Media Notes:

Newly appointed members include:

CAARP Advisory Committee:

Nona Tirre Miranda is owner and operator of a State Farm Insurance agency for the last 16 years. Tirre Miranda is the recipient of the State Farm Top 100 New Agents within the United States, the Woman of the Year award by then-State Assemblywoman Norma Torres in 2012, and the Small Business of the Year award by then-State Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod in 2011. She serves as Area Governor for Rotary District 5300, sits on the Claremont Rotary Board of Directors, and is Chair for the City of Claremont Police Commission. Tirre Miranda has been reappointed to the CAARP Advisory Committee in the producer representative seat with a term ending on July 16, 2026.

COIN Advisory Board:

Maïté Irakoze Baur is Chief Investment Officer for Farmers Insurance Group, overseeing the management of the company’s insurance balance sheets and retirement plan assets. She joined Farmers in 2016 as Head of Insurance Investments, leading the implementation of the investment strategy across the insurance balance sheets and managing a fully outsourced, multi-asset manager platform. With two decades of global experience in insurance investment management, Irakoze Baur previously held a variety of positions within Zurich Insurance Group in Zurich and New York. She serves on the Board of the Insurance Women’s Investment Network (IWIN). Irakoze Baur has been reappointed to the COIN Advisory Board in the insurance investment executive representative seat with a term ending on July 16, 2027.

Curriculum Board:

Cathy Little is Founder and Independent Agent of Essential Exchange Insurance Services, specializing in health insurance solutions for individuals and small businesses across the Bay Area. She previously worked for UnitedHealthcare and the brokerage firm Willis Towers Watson, and has over 25 years of experience as a licensed health insurance agent managing employer-sponsored health and welfare programs. Little is certified with Covered California as well as many of the Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug, and Medicare Supplement plans offered in California. She served as immediate past President for the Golden Gate Chapter of California Agents and Health Insurance Professionals (CAHIP) and is a member of the National Association of Health Insurance Professionals (NABIP). Little joins the Curriculum Board in the life agent trade association representative seat, with a term ending on July 16, 2028.